Article
Chemistry, Physical
Marco Zoli
Summary: A statistical method has been developed to estimate the maximum amplitude of base pair fluctuations in a three-dimensional mesoscopic model for nucleic acids, by viewing thermal vibrations of base pairs as Brownian motion and calculating the probability of returning to the initial position over time. This method provides meaningful estimates for maximum fluctuations in twist conformations, showing broader fluctuations upon untwisting the double helix and an increased integral cutoff in the presence of sliding motion peculiar to dsRNA molecules.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tanmay Sadhanasatish, Katharina Augustin, Lukas Windgasse, Anna Chrostek-Grashoff, Matthias Rief, Carsten Grashoff
Summary: Many mechanobiological processes are regulated at the level of individual molecular linkages, and molecular optomechanics provides a method to investigate the mechanical function of intracellular molecules. Using this technique, it was found that talin plays an essential role as a mechanical linker in cell-matrix adhesions and overall cell integrity, while desmoplakin's mechanical engagement is expendable under homeostatic conditions but necessary for cell-cell adhesion under stress. These results highlight the central role of talin and desmoplakin as mechanical linkers in cell adhesion structures and demonstrate the power of molecular optomechanics in studying mechanobiological processes.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Zuhan Chen, Lingfei Xiao, Chaoyu Hu, Zixia Shen, Encheng Zhou, Shichen Zhang, Yanfeng Wang
Summary: In this study, we fabricated electrospun nanofiber membranes of polycaprolactone/silk fibroin with or without lovastatin loading, and evaluated their scar-inhibitory effects on wounds. The nanofiber membranes demonstrated good controlled-release performance, mechanical properties, hydrophilicity, and biocompatibility. The perpendicular placement of nanofibers to the tension direction effectively reduced scar formation and promoted skin regeneration, while lovastatin-loaded nanofibers inhibited myofibroblast differentiation and migration, synergistically reducing scar formation.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
T. Ferreira Luisa, Helder Maiato
Summary: Accurate chromosome segregation during mitosis requires a complete restructuring of cellular organization, including the remodeling of microtubules and actin cytoskeleton. These cytoplasmic events must be coordinated with mitotic chromosome condensation and nuclear envelope permeabilization to ensure mitotic timing and fidelity. Recent progress has been made in understanding the regulatory biochemical and mechanical pathways involved in these processes.
SEMINARS IN CELL & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dariusz Lachowski, Carlos Matellan, Sahana Gopal, Ernesto Cortes, Benjamin K. Robinson, Alberto Saiani, Aline F. Miller, Molly M. Stevens, Armando E. del Rio Hernandez
Summary: Liver fibrosis is a common manifestation of chronic liver injury, and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play a crucial role in this process. This study reveals a mechanism by which matrix stiffness regulates plasma membrane tension, leading to increased secretion of TIMP-1. The expression of TIMP-1 and caveolin-1 is also found to be increased in cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yijun Zheng, Mitchell K. L. Han, Renping Zhao, Johanna Blass, Jingnan Zhang, Dennis W. Zhou, Jean-Remy Colard-Itte, Damien Dattler, Arzu Colak, Markus Hoth, Andres J. Garcia, Bin Qu, Roland Bennewitz, Nicolas Giuseppone, Aranzazu del Campo
Summary: The study introduces a unique molecular machine that uses light-driven rotatory molecular motor to apply forces at cell-matrix and cell-cell junctions, pulling on cell membrane receptors. These forces have physiologically-relevant magnitude and occur within relevant time scales for mechanotransduction, showing potential for manipulating living cells at the molecular scale.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chao Fang, Xi Wei, Xueying Shao, Yuan Lin
Summary: The study developed a unified dynamic model to explain how cellular anisotropy and plasticity affect the elongation process of Caenorhabditis elegans embryos. It was found that the alignment of actin filaments and cell plasticity play crucial roles in embryo elongation dynamics.
Article
Physiology
Emil Rindom, Jon Herskind, Bert Blaauw, Kristian Overgaard, Kristian Vissing, Frank de Paoli
Summary: The study suggests that exercise-induced increases in protein synthesis and transcriptional signaling depend on the combined effect of excitation and tension development, while signaling for translation initiation is solely dependent on tension development itself.
Article
Neurosciences
Kimberly Than, Enoch Kim, Cebrina Navarro, Sarah Chu, Nikola Klier, Alyssa Occiano, Serena Ortiz, Alexandra Salazar, Steven R. Valdespino, Natanya K. Villegas, Katherine A. Wilkinson
Summary: The muscle spindle afferents are slowly adapting low threshold mechanoreceptors responsible for reporting muscle length and movement information important for motor control and proprioception. The rapidly adapting cation channel PIEZO2 is essential for muscle spindle afferent stretch sensitivity, but additional molecular elements are required for mediating the complex slowly adapting response of these afferents. Glutamate released from synaptic-like vesicles plays a crucial role in maintaining muscle spindle afferent excitability during stretch, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for normalizing their function.
JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Jian Sun, Junwei Chen, Kshitij Amar, Yanyan Wu, Mingxing Jiang, Ning Wang
Summary: There is increasing evidence that force affects cells and tissues in various physiological and pathological processes, including gene regulation. However, the molecular pathway of force transmission from the nuclear lamina to the chromatin remains unclear. This study reveals that the nuclear protein LAP2 beta mediates force transmission from the nuclear lamina to the chromatin, and this pathway plays a crucial role in gene regulation.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maria Paz Ramirez, Michael J. M. Anderson, Marcus D. Kelly, Lauren J. Sundby, Anthony R. Hagerty, Sophia J. Wenthe, David J. Odde, James M. Ervasti, Wendy R. Gordon
Summary: The essential muscle protein dystrophin plays a role in maintaining cell membrane stability by connecting the actin cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix through the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex. This study found that mutations associated with Duchenne or Becker muscular dystrophy compromise the mechanical function of dystrophin, leading to decreased focal adhesion tension and impaired cell migration. The results suggest that dystrophin influences focal adhesion tension and that disease-causing missense mutations may disrupt a cellular tension-sensing pathway in dystrophic skeletal muscle.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shaomin Wang, Lingmei Zhu, Dongdong Yu, Xuefeng Han, Lieshuang Zhong, Yongping Hou, Yongmei Zheng
Summary: A bioinspired helical-groove-modified spindle-knot (HSK) microfiber with enhanced wetting speed and hanging ability was fabricated by a simple coating method combined with crack regulation. It showed great potential for large-scale water collection.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Angela R. R. Bunning, Mohan L. L. Gupta Jr.
Summary: Accurate chromosome segregation is essential for cell and organismal viability. The mitotic spindle, composed mainly of dynamic microtubules, plays a crucial role in this process by forming a bipolar configuration and generating tension across sister kinetochores. Recent advances have shed light on the role of tension as a biophysical signal that ensures accurate chromosome segregation by destabilizing aberrant kinetochore-microtubule attachments and reinforcing correct connections.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Daphne O. Asgeirsson, Michael G. Christiansen, Thomas Valentin, Luca Somm, Nima Mirkhani, Amin Hosseini Nami, Vahid Hosseini, Simone Schuerle
Summary: The study presents methods for spatiotemporally probing and manipulating extracellular matrix networks at a scale relevant to cells using magnetic microprobes (mu Rods). Techniques leverage 3D magnetic field generation, physical modeling, and image analysis to examine and apply mechanical stimuli to fibrous collagen matrices. The study determined shear moduli and modeled the effects of proximity to rigid surfaces and local fiber densification, demonstrating 3D actuation and pose extraction of fluorescently labelled mu Rods in response to magnetic torques.
Article
Cell Biology
Srividya Venkatramanan, Consuelo Ibar, Kenneth D. Irvine
Summary: The study reveals the important roles of TRIP6 and LIMD1 in mediating the effects of cytoskeletal tension on organ growth, with TRIP6 being crucial for the localization of LIMD1. Furthermore, the competition between focal adhesions and adherens junctions for key proteins needed to maintain attachments to contractile F-actin is highlighted.
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2021)